NC
North Carolina House Bill H747

North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H747 Compare Versions

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11 GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
22 SESSION 2025
3-H 1
4-HOUSE BILL 747
3+H D
4+HOUSE BILL DRH10312-MH-84A
5+
56
67
78 Short Title: 2025 Wildlife Resources Changes.-AB (Public)
8-Sponsors: Representatives Adams, Moss, Clampitt, and Turner (Primary Sponsors).
9-For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10-Referred to: Wildlife Resources, if favorable, Judiciary 1, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
11-Operations of the House
12-April 3, 2025
13-*H747 -v-1*
9+Sponsors: Representative Adams.
10+Referred to:
11+
12+*DRH10312 -MH-84A*
1413 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
1514 AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES TO THE WILDLIFE LAWS, AS REQUESTED 2
1615 BY THE WILDLIFE RESOURCES COMMISSION. 3
1716 The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
1817 5
1918 CONFIDENTIALITY OF WILDLIFE RESOURCE INFORMATION 6
2019 SECTION 1. G.S. 143-254.5 reads as rewritten: 7
2120 "§ 143-254.5. Disclosure of personal identifying and sensitive wildlife resource information. 8
2221 (a) Social security numbers and identifying information obtained by the Commission 9
2322 shall be treated as provided in G.S. 132-1.10. For purposes of this section, "identifying 10
2423 information" also includes a person's mailing address, residence address, e-mail address, 11
2524 Commission-issued customer identification number, date of birth, information subject to 12
2625 G.S. 106-24.1 transferred to the Commission from the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 13
2726 Services, and telephone number. 14
2827 (b) Records that contain site-specific information regarding the occurrence of rare species 15
2928 of plants or animals specified in the current North Carolina Wildlife Action Plan, or the location 16
3029 of sensitive habitats, are confidential and exempt from disclosure under Chapter 132 of the 17
3130 General Statutes when the Executive Director finds that disclosure will create a risk of harm, 18
3231 theft, or destruction to the species or habitats or the area where the species or habitats are located. 19
3332 This subsection does not apply to a request for release of records requested by the owner of record 20
3433 of land where such species, habitats, or areas are located." 21
3534 22
3635 AUTHORIZE THE DIVISION OF MOTOR VEHICLES TO ISSUE LIFETIME 23
3736 CONSERVATIONIST AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES REGISTRATION PLATES 24
3837 SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 20-63(b1) is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 25
3938 "() Wildlife Resources." 26
4039 SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 20-79.4(b) reads as rewritten: 27
4140 "(b) Types. – The Division shall issue the following types of special registration plates: 28
4241 … 29
4342 () Lifetime Conservationist. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle 30
4443 in accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the "North Carolina 31
4544 Lifetime Conservationist" logo of the North Carolina Wildlife Resources 32
4645 Commission. 33
47-… 34 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
48-Page 2 House Bill 747-First Edition
49-(267) Wildlife Resources. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in 1
50-accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the phrase "Wildlife 2
51-Resources Commission" with a picture in the background representing a 3
52-native wildlife species occurring in North Carolina. 4
53-…." 5
54-SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 20-81.12 reads as rewritten: 6
55-"§ 20-81.12. Collegiate insignia plates and certain other special plates. 7
56-… 8
57-() Lifetime Conservationist. – The Division must transfer quarterly the money in the 9
58-Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Account derived from the sale of Lifetime Conservationist 10
59-plates to the Wildlife Resources Fund established in G.S. 143-250. 11
60-… 12
61-(b163) Wildlife Resources Plates. Resources. – The Division must receive 300 or more 13
62-applications for a wildlife resources plate with a picture representing a particular native wildlife 14
63-species occurring in North Carolina before the plate may be developed. The Division must 15
64-transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from 16
65-the sale of wildlife resources plates to the Wildlife Conservation Account established by 17
66-G.S. 143-247.2. 18
67-…." 19
68- 20
69-RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY CONFORMING PROGRAM CHANGES 21
70-SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 75A-5 reads as rewritten: 22
71-"§ 75A-5. Application for certificate of number; fees; reciprocity; change of ownership; 23
72-conformity with federal regulations; records; award of certificates; renewal of 24
73-certificates; transfer of partial interest; destroyed or junked vessels; 25
74-abandonment; change of address; duplicate certificates; display. 26
75-… 27
76-(b) Reciprocity. – The owner of any vessel already covered by a number in full force and 28
77-effect pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state shall 29
78-record the identification number prior to operating the vessel on the waters of this State in excess 30
79-of the 90-day 60-day reciprocity period provided for in G.S. 75A-7(a)(1). The recordation shall 31
80-be made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that no additional or substitute 32
81-identification number shall be issued. 33
82-…." 34
83-SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 75A-7(a) reads as rewritten: 35
84-"(a) A vessel shall not be required to be numbered under this Chapter if it is: 36
85-(1) A vessel that is required to be awarded an identification number pursuant to 37
86-federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, and 38
87-for which an identification number has been so awarded: Provided, that any 39
88-such vessel shall not have been within this State for a period in excess of 90 40
89-60 consecutive days. 41
90-…." 42
91-SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 75A-6.1(a) reads as rewritten: 43
92-"(a) Every vessel operated on the waters of this State that is required to obtain an 44
93-identification number pursuant to this Chapter, has a valid marine document issued by the federal 45
94-Bureau of Customs or any federal agency successor to it, or issued pursuant to a federally 46
95-approved numbering system of another state shall comply with the navigation rules, including 47
96-requirements for navigational lights, sound-signaling devices, and other equipment, contained in 48
97-the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980, codified as amended at 33 U.S.C. §§ 2001-2038, 49
98-2071-2073 (1993) and rules adopted pursuant thereto, see 33 C.F.R. Part 84 (1992)." 50
99-SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 75A-13.3 reads as rewritten: 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
100-House Bill 747-First Edition Page 3
101-"§ 75A-13.3. Personal watercraft. 1
102-… 2
103-(d) No person shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this State, nor shall the 3
104-owner of a personal watercraft knowingly allow another person to operate that personal 4
105-watercraft on the waters of this State, unless: 5
106-(1) Each person riding on or being towed behind the vessel is wearing a personal 6
107-flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard. Inflatable 7
108-personal flotation devices do not satisfy this requirement; and 8
109-(2) In the case of a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a 9
110-lanyard-type an engine cut-off switch, the lanyard is securely attached to the 10
111-person, clothing, or flotation device of the operator at all times while the 11
112-personal watercraft is being operated in such a manner to turn off the engine 12
113-if the operator dismounts while the watercraft is in operation.the engine 13
114-cut-off switch is being used while the vessel is operating on plane or above 14
115-displacement speed. 15
116-… 16
117-(e) A personal watercraft must at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent 17
118-manner. Maneuvers that endanger life, limb, or property shall constitute reckless operation of a 18
119-vessel as provided in G.S. 75A-10, and include any of the following: 19
120-(1) Unreasonably or unnecessarily weaving through congested vessel traffic. 20
121-(2) Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the other vessel or when 21
122-visibility around the other vessel is obstructed. 22
123-(3) Intentionally approaching another vessel in order to swerve at the last possible 23
124-moment to avoid collision. 24
125-(4) Repealed by Session Laws 2000-52, s. 2. 25
126-(5) Operating contrary to the "rules of the road" navigation rules or following too 26
127-closely to another vessel, including another personal watercraft. For purposes 27
128-of this subdivision, "following too closely" means proceeding in the same 28
129-direction and operating at a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour when 29
130-approaching within 100 feet to the rear or 50 feet to the side of another vessel 30
131-that is underway unless that vessel is operating in a narrow channel, in which 31
132-case a personal watercraft may operate at the speed and flow of other vessel 32
133-traffic. 33
134-…." 34
135-SECTION 3.(e) This section becomes effective October 1, 2025. Prosecutions for 35
136-offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and 36
137-the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions. 37
138- 38
139-EFFECTIVE DATE 39
140-SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 40
141-law. 41
46+… 34
47+(267) Wildlife Resources. – Issuable to the registered owner of a motor vehicle in 35
48+accordance with G.S. 20-81.12. The plate shall bear the phrase "Wildlife 36
49+H.B. 747
50+Apr 2, 2025
51+HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
52+Page 2 DRH10312-MH-84A
53+Resources Commission" with a picture in the background representing a 1
54+native wildlife species occurring in North Carolina. 2
55+…." 3
56+SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 20-81.12 reads as rewritten: 4
57+"§ 20-81.12. Collegiate insignia plates and certain other special plates. 5
58+… 6
59+() Lifetime Conservationist. – The Division must transfer quarterly the money in the 7
60+Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Account derived from the sale of Lifetime Conservationist 8
61+plates to the Wildlife Resources Fund established in G.S. 143-250. 9
62+… 10
63+(b163) Wildlife Resources Plates. Resources. – The Division must receive 300 or more 11
64+applications for a wildlife resources plate with a picture representing a particular native wildlife 12
65+species occurring in North Carolina before the plate may be developed. The Division must 13
66+transfer quarterly the money in the Collegiate and Cultural Attraction Plate Account derived from 14
67+the sale of wildlife resources plates to the Wildlife Conservation Account established by 15
68+G.S. 143-247.2. 16
69+…." 17
70+ 18
71+RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY CONFORMING PROGRAM CHANGES 19
72+SECTION 3.(a) G.S. 75A-5 reads as rewritten: 20
73+"§ 75A-5. Application for certificate of number; fees; reciprocity; change of ownership; 21
74+conformity with federal regulations; records; award of certificates; renewal of 22
75+certificates; transfer of partial interest; destroyed or junked vessels; 23
76+abandonment; change of address; duplicate certificates; display. 24
77+… 25
78+(b) Reciprocity. – The owner of any vessel already covered by a number in full force and 26
79+effect pursuant to federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state shall 27
80+record the identification number prior to operating the vessel on the waters of this State in excess 28
81+of the 90-day 60-day reciprocity period provided for in G.S. 75A-7(a)(1). The recordation shall 29
82+be made pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, except that no additional or substitute 30
83+identification number shall be issued. 31
84+…." 32
85+SECTION 3.(b) G.S. 75A-7(a) reads as rewritten: 33
86+"(a) A vessel shall not be required to be numbered under this Chapter if it is: 34
87+(1) A vessel that is required to be awarded an identification number pursuant to 35
88+federal law or a federally approved numbering system of another state, and 36
89+for which an identification number has been so awarded: Provided, that any 37
90+such vessel shall not have been within this State for a period in excess of 90 38
91+60 consecutive days. 39
92+…." 40
93+SECTION 3.(c) G.S. 75A-6.1(a) reads as rewritten: 41
94+"(a) Every vessel operated on the waters of this State that is required to obtain an 42
95+identification number pursuant to this Chapter, has a valid marine document issued by the federal 43
96+Bureau of Customs or any federal agency successor to it, or issued pursuant to a federally 44
97+approved numbering system of another state shall comply with the navigation rules, including 45
98+requirements for navigational lights, sound-signaling devices, and other equipment, contained in 46
99+the Inland Navigational Rules Act of 1980, codified as amended at 33 U.S.C. §§ 2001-2038, 47
100+2071-2073 (1993) and rules adopted pursuant thereto, see 33 C.F.R. Part 84 (1992)." 48
101+SECTION 3.(d) G.S. 75A-13.3 reads as rewritten: 49
102+"§ 75A-13.3. Personal watercraft. 50
103+… 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
104+DRH10312-MH-84A Page 3
105+(d) No person shall operate a personal watercraft on the waters of this State, nor shall the 1
106+owner of a personal watercraft knowingly allow another person to operate that personal 2
107+watercraft on the waters of this State, unless: 3
108+(1) Each person riding on or being towed behind the vessel is wearing a personal 4
109+flotation device approved by the United States Coast Guard. Inflatable 5
110+personal flotation devices do not satisfy this requirement; and 6
111+(2) In the case of a personal watercraft equipped by the manufacturer with a 7
112+lanyard-type an engine cut-off switch, the lanyard is securely attached to the 8
113+person, clothing, or flotation device of the operator at all times while the 9
114+personal watercraft is being operated in such a manner to turn off the engine 10
115+if the operator dismounts while the watercraft is in operation.the engine 11
116+cut-off switch is being used while the vessel is operating on plane or above 12
117+displacement speed. 13
118+… 14
119+(e) A personal watercraft must at all times be operated in a reasonable and prudent 15
120+manner. Maneuvers that endanger life, limb, or property shall constitute reckless operation of a 16
121+vessel as provided in G.S. 75A-10, and include any of the following: 17
122+(1) Unreasonably or unnecessarily weaving through congested vessel traffic. 18
123+(2) Jumping the wake of another vessel within 100 feet of the other vessel or when 19
124+visibility around the other vessel is obstructed. 20
125+(3) Intentionally approaching another vessel in order to swerve at the last possible 21
126+moment to avoid collision. 22
127+(4) Repealed by Session Laws 2000-52, s. 2. 23
128+(5) Operating contrary to the "rules of the road" navigation rules or following too 24
129+closely to another vessel, including another personal watercraft. For purposes 25
130+of this subdivision, "following too closely" means proceeding in the same 26
131+direction and operating at a speed in excess of 10 miles per hour when 27
132+approaching within 100 feet to the rear or 50 feet to the side of another vessel 28
133+that is underway unless that vessel is operating in a narrow channel, in which 29
134+case a personal watercraft may operate at the speed and flow of other vessel 30
135+traffic. 31
136+…." 32
137+SECTION 3.(e) This section becomes effective October 1, 2025. Prosecutions for 33
138+offenses committed before the effective date of this act are not abated or affected by this act, and 34
139+the statutes that would be applicable but for this act remain applicable to those prosecutions. 35
140+ 36
141+EFFECTIVE DATE 37
142+SECTION 4. Except as otherwise provided, this act is effective when it becomes 38
143+law. 39